Michx.
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.961318
Element CodePMCYP03M30
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderCyperales
FamilyCyperaceae
GenusCarex
Other Common NamesCarex vulpinoïde (FR)
Concept ReferenceFlora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2002b. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 23. Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Cyperaceae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiv + 608 pp.
Taxonomic CommentsThis record is for the narrow treatment of Carex vulpinoidea which excludes what has been called C. vulpinoidea var. platycarpa (e.g., in Kartesz (1994)). Standley's treatment in FNA (2002, vol. 23) does not mention C. vulpinoidea var. platycarpa, but Kartesz (1999) and POWO (accessed 2025) include it in C. triangularis, The FNA treatment also does not recognize C. vulpinoidea var. pycnocephala as distinct from typical C. vulpinoidea.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-08-21
Change Date2016-03-28
Edition Date2025-08-21
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsCarex vulpinoidea is a wide-ranging perennial graminoid found in a variety of open, wetland habitat types, including low fields, fens, seeps, wet meadows, tidal freshwater marshes, roadside ditches, and other wet, often disturbed, sites. It occurs in North America from Newfoundland Island west to British Columbia, Canada, south to Florida and California in the United States, and Mexico; it is introduced in Europe and New Zealand. There are thousands of occurrences rangewide, which face threats from development, rights-of-way maintenance, hydrological alteration, invasive species, and other threats in some places. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, abundant habitat, and broad habitat preferences, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsCarex vulpinoidea occurs in North America from Newfoundland Island west to British Columbia, Canada, south to Florida and California in the United States, and Mexico; it is introduced in Europe and New Zealand (FNA 2002). Native range extent was estimated to be over 17 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1994 and 2025 (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are thousands of occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, this species is threatened by development, rights-of-way maintenance, hydrological alteration, invasive species, and other threats in some places, though there is insufficient data, including anecdotal accounts, to understand scope and severity of threats for this species (NatureServe 2025). However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats.